The highly anticipated movie "Twisters" stormed into theaters this weekend, surpassing expectations and raking in an impressive $80.5 million in ticket sales from 4,151 theaters in North America. The standalone sequel to the 1996 hit outperformed initial analyst predictions by about $30 million, marking the biggest opening of a live-action movie so far this summer.
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, "Twisters" is a franchise film that benefits from the brand recognition of the original "Twister" movie starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Despite not featuring any of the original characters, the film introduces a new group of storm chasers to audiences.
Critics were mostly positive about the 2-hour thriller, and audiences gave it an enthusiastic A- CinemaScore and 4.5 stars on PostTrak. The movie's immersive and exciting storytelling, along with its charming cast, seemed to resonate well with moviegoers.
The success of "Twisters" was mirrored by the continued strong performance of other films in theaters, such as "Despicable Me 4" and "Inside Out 2." The box office has been showing signs of recovery after a challenging start to the summer movie season.
Looking ahead, the upcoming release of "Deadpool & Wolverine" is expected to make a big splash at the box office, potentially challenging "Twisters" in its second weekend. The competition between blockbuster films could lead to an exciting weekend for moviegoers who may be interested in seeing multiple films back to back.
Overall, the diverse range of movies currently in theaters offers something for everyone, from animated family-friendly films to thrilling action-packed adventures. As the summer movie season continues, audiences can look forward to more entertainment options on the big screen.